Re: DISCHARGING BOTTLE CAPACITORS

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Harold Weiss" <hweiss-at-new.rr-dot-com> 

Hi Ravi,

I use a "Gator Stick" made from 3' of a wooden broom handle.  At the tip I
drove a 3" nail into the end about 1" and about 1" out bent the nail 90
degrees.  I then cut the head off the nail, and rounded the sharp edges with
a file.  I then silver soldered a 8' length of 16ga lamp cord to it.  I then
secured the cable to the first 6" of the handle with electrical tape. On the
other end of the cable I attached a alligator clip, and it was done.  Attach
the clip to your ground, and touch each terminal of your capacitor with the
tip.  Do not touch the cable while discharging, and hold the stick in only
one hand and keep the other in your pocket.  One neat thing is using your
stick to draw a power arc from the topload when the coil is running.  You
can feel the arc vibrating the stick.  I'll send you a pic of me discharging
Dr. R's multiplier at Cheesehead. (that one could bite you real hard)

David E Weiss



 > Original poster: "Nightmare" <nightmare-at-bak.rr-dot-com>
 >
 > Hi, this is Ravi, im soon to make a tesla coil, 3 in dia. ~18 in 7kV 29mA
 > and i have everything just i am waiting to make a winding jig and put
 > everything together. I heard you must discharge your capacitor before
 > touching it or anything. How do you do this. I am gonna show my TC to the
 > school for science fair and my friends, i dont wanna die so could you
guuys
 > gimme some tips on things to do before touching it? Thanks a lot. Im too
 > young to die, only 13! hehe
 >
 > Thanks again
 >
 > Ravi
 >
 >